| The simplest way to treat old walls to make them | | | | Some are made in blanket form of soft, flexible |
| warmer and prevent "sweating" is to nail furring strips | | | | materials, such as felt, wool, hair, and fiber, to be |
| over the old plaster upon which to apply new lath | | | | stretched and tucked between the studs, floor joists, |
| and plaster, insulating board, or insulating material and | | | | and rafters; others come in loose form and can be |
| wall board. Before the new surface is applied, it will | | | | packed into hollow spaces; and others are in stiff |
| probably be necessary to remove the trim and, | | | | board form to be used as sheathing, plaster base, or |
| when the wall is finished, to insert pieces of wood | | | | merely as insulation. The manufacturers of insulating |
| behind the trim before it is replaced, to bring it | | | | materials are usually glad to cooperate with the |
| forward to form a suitable offset. | | | | prospective users by furnishing literature describing |
| Another method is to leave the old trim in place and | | | | their products and giving full instructions for applying |
| to apply new trim on top of this after plastering. For | | | | them and by also supplying special advice where |
| this you will want to have length measurements | | | | necessary. |
| taken, preferably with precision measurements tools | | | | The roof is the most exposed part of the house, |
| like a laser measuring tool, so that you will know | | | | being subject to the direct rays of the sun in |
| exactly how much to remove. Re-plastering, | | | | summer and to strong cold winds in winter. In an |
| especially in a furnished house, is rather objectionable, | | | | unfinished attic a great amount of heat is lost |
| because of dampness resulting from the large | | | | through the roof during the winter months. The rapid |
| quantity of water required and because of the | | | | melting of snow on the roof is evidence of this. In |
| splashing and spattering in applying the materials. | | | | the summertime the heat passes through into the |
| There are several good wall boards and insulating | | | | attic, making the temperature in the upper part of |
| boards on the market, however, which can be | | | | the house almost unbearable. It is therefore |
| applied upon the stripping in place of lath and plaster, | | | | important that the roof or the upper story of the |
| and with less difficulty. A specially prepared | | | | house be insulated. |
| joint-treating system is used with these boards, and | | | | If the attic is being used and there is necessity for |
| when completed the wall has the appearance of a | | | | keeping it at a comfortable temperature throughout |
| plastered surface and may be decorated if desired. | | | | the year, application of at least one-half inch, |
| Directions covering the application and decoration of | | | | preferably more, of good insulation to the underside |
| these boards are usually furnished by the | | | | of the roof rafters or against the roof boards |
| manufacturers. | | | | between the rafters is advisable. If there is no |
| Heat passes through a wall or roof if there is a | | | | necessity for keeping the attic space at a |
| difference in temperature between the two sides. | | | | comfortable temperature, insulation is best applied |
| The direction of flow is from the warmer to the | | | | under the attic floor on top of or between the joists. |
| cooler side, and heat seeks the lowest temperature | | | | If there is no floor, a few boards may be laid down |
| level just as water seeks the lowest plane. It is | | | | to walk upon. |
| therefore apparent that, in order to heat a house | | | | Spaces between the studs at the floor line should be |
| economically it is necessary to prevent, as far as | | | | boarded over. This boarding not only blocks the free |
| possible, this flow of heat. In the wintertime for | | | | passage of air from within the walls but also provides |
| economy the heat must be kept within the house | | | | a fire stop, which is recommended for good |
| and in the summertime for comfort the out-of-doors | | | | construction. The best way to do this is with an |
| heat must be kept out. | | | | adhesive tape measure, but a steel tape measure |
| While no material will entirely stop the passage of | | | | works if the steel tape can lock. |
| heat through a wall or roof, marked progress has | | | | You will want to measure out the boards to the |
| been made in recent years in the manufacture of | | | | perfect length and width to form a tight seal. Attic |
| efficient insulating, materials, many good brands | | | | windows should be weather tight, and if there are |
| having been placed on the market. With the different | | | | louvers, or vents, to admit air, they should be made |
| types of measurement tools out there, all the unique | | | | to close like shutters or be provided with doors on |
| tape measures and laser tape measures, you can | | | | the inside to be closed during severe weather. The |
| take measurements up to the millimeter, and cut the | | | | louvers should also be screened to keep out insects, |
| exact piece of material needed for the most | | | | especially those which injure woodwork. |
| effective seal. | | | | |